Sales Tax vs Service Tax

Last updated: July 9, 2026

Doing this in Cloudby?
This is the rules reference. For how it works in the software, see Tax rates in the reference, or the how-to Set up taxes.

Sales Tax and Service Tax are separate taxes with separate rules. Knowing which one applies, and at what rate, is the heart of getting SST right.

Sales Tax

A single-stage tax on taxable goods manufactured in Malaysia or imported. It is charged once, by the registered manufacturer on sale or at the point of import, and not again as the goods move down the chain. Standard rates are 5% or 10% depending on the goods (with specific rates for a few items such as petroleum). Goods on the Exempted Order carry no Sales Tax.

Service Tax

Charged by a registered provider of prescribed taxable services when the service is provided. The standard rate is 8%, raised from 6% on 1 March 2024; a set of services (including food & beverage, telecommunications, parking and logistics) stays at 6%. The list of taxable services has been widened in 2024 and 2025, so scope is as important as rate: see Sources & what changed.

No input-tax credit. Unlike the old GST, SST is single-stage: there is no mechanism to offset tax you paid on purchases against tax you collect. What you charge is what you remit (subject to exemptions).

Tax type codes

Every taxable line carries a tax type code. These are the same codes MyInvois expects, so the value you set on a Cloudby tax item is what is reported on the e-Invoice:

CodeTax type
01Sales Tax
02Service Tax
03Tourism Tax
04High-Value Goods Tax
05Sales Tax on Low-Value Goods
06Not applicable / exempt
Always confirm with RMCD. SST rates, scope and thresholds have moved several times. This page reflects the position as of early 2026; verify the current rules on the MySST portal (RMCD) before you rely on a figure.

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